Fire Destroys Manatee County Home, Killing Two Dogs
A devastating fire swept through a Manatee County residence Saturday afternoon, killing two dogs and leaving the homeowner facing yet another major setback just a year after rebuilding from hurricane damage.
Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue responded around 1 p.m. to a reported structure fire in the 200 block of Magellan Drive. Battalion Chief John Eibe said units arrived within four minutes to find heavy fire pouring from every opening of the home.
Neighbor Devon Rowe, who lives across the canal, said his sister spotted the flames and called 911 immediately. He attempted to reach the home but said the fire had already overtaken the structure by the time he got close.
Crews from Cedar Hammock, the City of Bradenton, and Southern Manatee worked together to battle the blaze, ultimately extinguishing it within about 90 minutes. In total, 20 fire units and three Manatee County EMS units responded.
No civilians or firefighters were injured, but officials confirmed that two dogs inside the home died in the fire.
Rowe said the homeowner had recently rebuilt the residence after severe flooding from Hurricane Helene last year. The homeowner had purchased the house just a month before the hurricane and repaired the damage himself.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined and is currently under investigation.
Photo credit: Devon Rowe via Report It
